Spring-clasp



(No Model.)

H. D. WHEATLEY.

SPRING CLASP.

No. 343,877. Patented June 15, 1886.

mos.

PATENT HARRY D. WHEATLEY, OF CENTREVILLE, OHIO.

SPRING-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,877, dated June 15, 1886.

Application filed May 18, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY D. WHEATLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oentreville, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring- Clasps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My inventionrelates to that class of springclasps which are more particularly adapted for use in securing music-books in an open position on a music-rack, or for similar purposes; and it has for its object the production of a spring-clasp which shall possess supe rior advantages in the points of simplicity of construction, durability, and efficiency in operation.

My invention is further adapted to be used as a file for filing away letters, for holding letter-paper in the form of a tablet and thereby dispensing with the necessity for binding the same, and for hanging up bills, weather-reports, 8m.

Referring to the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved springclasp, showing the same secured in operative position to the ledge of amusic-rack; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from the under side of the ledge, showing the clasp swung down out of the way, as it appears when not in use.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A A represent the straight horizontal portions of my improved spring-clasp,which is formed of a single piece of wire of suitable thickness, the

7 central portion of the said wire being bent to form the double-crank portion'A, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The wire forming Serial No. 165,944. (No model.)

cular portions B arepreferably provided with rubber cushions. B, which bear against the music-book or other article which is secured upon the rack by the clasp when the latter is adjusted in its operative position.

The clasp is secured to the under side of the ledge G of, for example, a music-rack, by means of clips or staplesF placed around. the straight horizontal portions of the clasp, preferably near the springcoils E, as shown, these staples forming hinges for the clasp and allowing it to be swung into or out of operative position, as required. T0 or near the outer edge of the ledge is secured a catch, 0, (shown more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings,) the said catch being placed at such apoint as to adapt it to engage with the cranked portion A of 7 The operation of the clasp is as follows: The

music-book having been opened upon the rack at the appropriate place by taking hold of the central cranked portion, A, of the clasp and swinging the same up until it engages with and enters the catch 0, the cushioned ends B of the clasp are pressed firmly against the lower margin of the book,whcre they will not interfere with the reading matter or notes, and it will be seen that as soon as the clasp is locked in its raised position by its central cranked portion entering the catch 0, the music-book or other article to be secured will be firmly held or locked in its adjusted position, the cushions of the free ends of the clasp preventing the surface of the paperbeing injured under the pressure of the clasp.

When it is desired to release the book or other article from the pressure of the clasp, it is only necessary to press or push the cranked portion A out of the stationary catch 0, which will at once free the book or other article from the pressure of the clasp.

Rubber or felt cushions D D are preferably secured beneath the clasp, as shown, so that when the clasp is swung down when not in use the coils E will strike against the said cushions, which will thereby operate to prevent rattling, as will be readily understood.

I am aware that a spring-clasp has been heretofore constructed formed of a single piece of wire secured at its extremities to the edge of the ledge of a music-rack or similar support, the said Wire being bent to form springs or coils, and having its central portion bent to adapt it to bear against the music-book or other article on the stand when the clasp is thrown up into its operative position, an additional -fastening-strip being employed to secure the clasp to theledge of the music-stand; and I am also aware that a spring-clasp has been heretofore constructed formed of a single strip of metal bent to form front and rear upwardlyprojecting portions, which are each provided with plates between which the book or other article is clasped, the spring of the bent metal strip holding the clasp in its operative position, and I do not therefore claim either of such constructions; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

1. The combination,with the catch secured in a suitable position to the ledge,of the hereiii-described spring-clasp, the same consisting of a single piece of wire bent to form the central double-crank portion which engages with the said catch when the clasp is raised into its operative position, the straighthorizontal portions on each side of the said central portremities when the clasp is raised into its operative position against the article placed upon the ledge, and the staples hinging the clasp t the lowerside of the ledge between the central curved portion and the spring-coils of the same, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the catch secured in a suitable position to the ledge,of the herein-described springclasp, the same consisting of a single piece of wire bent to form the central double-crank portion which engages with the said catch when the clasp is raised into its operative position, the straight horizontal portions on each side of the said central portion, each of the said straightportions being curved near its end to form the spring-coils, and the free curved portions extending beyond the said coils at right angles to the body of the clasp, and provided at their freeextremities with the rubber cushions which come in contact with the article to be secured upon the ledge, and the staples hinging the clasp to the lower side of the ledge between the central curved portion and the spring-coils of the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my f own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

tion, each of the said, straight portions, being Q curved near its end to form the spring-coil, and the free curved portions extending beyond the said coils at right angles tothe body of the clasp and adapted to bear with their free ex- HARRY D. WHEATLEY.

Witnesses:

JESSIE F. RUBEY, LIZZIE B. RUBEY. 

